Ahmad Luthfi Emphasises that Central Java's Development Aims at Citizens' Welfare

Luthfi explained various policies and development programmes of the Central Java Provincial Government for 2025, all aimed at improving societal welfare. “Our regional development’s output is how to make the community prosperous. The measure is how we can reduce the poverty rate,” said Luthfi in his statement on Tuesday (31/3/2026). Luthfi stated that in 2025, the poverty rate in Central Java decreased from 9.58% to 9.39%. The open unemployment rate (TPT) also fell by 0.46%, from 4.78% in 2024 to 4.32% in 2025. This was supported by economic growth of 5.37%, above the national average, and investment realisation reaching Rp88.8 trillion in 2025. “We achieved this through collaboration with various parties,” said Luthfi. Furthermore, Luthfi explained that parameters for reducing the poverty rate cannot focus on a single sector. He emphasised that clothing, food, housing, health, and education must be addressed holistically through collaboration between the province, districts/cities, and the central government. He cited interventions such as improving uninhabitable houses (RTLH) carried out by the Central Java Provincial Government in 2025, covering around 17,000 units. From this programme, interventions then extended to stunting prevention, health, child education, economy, and others. Thus, societal welfare can be elevated. In addition, interventions were implemented through free schooling for children from poor and extremely poor families, including through Partnership Schools with private high schools and Central Java vocational schools. Social assistance must also be targeted accurately. On this occasion, Luthfi also conveyed support for the implementation of central government programmes in Central Java. To date, the free nutritious meals (MBG) programme has reached 4.29 million recipients with support from 3,364 SPPG; the 3 million houses programme has achieved 17,510 units from the regional budget and 2,743 units from Baznas and corporate CSR. The Red and White Village/Urban Ward Cooperatives have 6,233 units operational out of a total of 8,523 units; the Free Health Check programme has served 14.13 million people, including the Speling programme; and the People’s Schools have been established in 17 units across 14 districts/cities with 1,275 students. Meanwhile, Chairman of the Central Java DPRD Sumanto stated that the Governor’s 2025 Accountability Report has been received. It will subsequently be reviewed and critiqued by the special committee (Pansus) formed during the plenary session. “The Pansus has been formed. We will certainly review the 2025 activities. We will provide notes for improvements in 2026,” he concluded.